We hope you guys are ready for and excited about 2013. We just wanted to say hey and let you know a little about what's going on with us. We're putting the finishing touches on our 4th LP to be released on Equal Vision this year ('13). Almost all the songs are now mixed and, honestly, we're more excited about it than any other record.

Maybe that seems like an unlikely thing for us to say but this record is unique because it's the first time we've released really anything since the early days that has no (zero) outside influences. We're thankful for everyone who helped us along the way, obviously, but this is a new thing for us; it really felt great not to have any industry peeps or big time producers or A&R's telling us what songs we should or should not record or how they should sound. Influences on this record are limited to what we love... period.

I guess we've been very quiet. We haven't done a bunch of 'behind the scenes' stuff... no video's from our sessions, etc. We've done all of that on other records; we just wanted to do our thing in our own studio without all of that hype and bring it to you guys when we felt like we were happy with it.

We promise there will be periodical news updates and blasts starting early this year about everything though. We're still in the planning stages but, in short, it's looking like this new album will be released late Spring or early Summer followed immediately by a full US tour.

Also, some of you might know, we're smack dab in the middle of having... babies! Stacy and Darren already have little Scarlett (2 months already!) but Chauntelle and Jessie (Weston's wife) are due like, exactly, now, so we're all super excited and trying to be patient while waiting for "Sophie" and "Wolf". And I'm due in in early February with "Lucy". No doubt we'll be posting all of that on Twitter/Instagram.

MUSIC FOR LIFE. We've said this many times before in different ways but making music for is not an option for us. It's not like, "well... we just didn't get BIG enough so let's hang it up" or "well... since we're not on a major label anymore, we're done" or "well, since we're getting married and are having babies we're done with that whole music thing". That would be like death to ourselves. Eisley is not an attempt at something. We live to make music. We're never going away.

Honestly, we're making more music than ever. The studio has opened up the doors for a constant flow of music from our crazy, expanding family. Chauntelle is making an EP, Christie and Collin (merrimentmusic.com) are about to record, Max and I are recording a solo project (permamusic.com) as we speak (type). If you heard Stacy's Sucre' project (sucremusic.com), you'll agree that more, not less, music is happening. We hope that makes you guys as happy as it does us.

Thank you SO much for all your love and support over the years. That might sound cliche' but, honesty, to us it's very heartfelt. Also - thank you Equal Vision Records for how much you've trusted us throughout this process.

The Valley was a good record. Sucre's a Minor Bird was a good record. I'll listen to their new album for sure. May not be my most anticipated for 2013 or in my top 10 of 2013, but adds a nice variety to the year. Glad to hear they are all bust making music.